Fiddlehead Ferns with Potatoes and Nigella Seeds

As we know, fiddleheads are one of the early harbingers of spring in New York. I had learnt to love them for their seasonal quality and enjoy them in pasta. Imagine my surprise when my friend Swapna informed me that fiddlehead ferns are also traditional in Eastern India and savored when available and the season permits.

Her recipe, which I have modified and made mine and actually shared in my cookbook, tosses the fern with potatoes, turmeric and nigella seeds. It adds enough spunk to tantalize your tastbuds but is mild enough not to overpower this delicate vegetable. This recipe will work well with tender asparagus and green beans too, so there you have it, once you try it, you have something to take you through summer.

Rinku Bhattacharya, the Spices & Seasons blogger, is a daytime financial professional, who spends the rest of her time immersed in food.
Rinku is the author of the blog, Spice Chronicles (formerly,Cooking in Westchester), where she shares her life experiences, original recipes that combine Indian spices with produce from her backyard and local farmers markets. Rinku is blessed with a gardener husband, who always surprises her with a prolific and fresh supply of produce to keep her creative instincts flowing. Rinku has been teaching recreational cooking classes for the past six years. Rinku is also the author of the Bengali Five Spice Chronicles an award winning (Gourmand 2013) cookbook, that highlights and offers many simple Indian recipes off the beaten path. Her second cookbook, Spices and Seasons, uses the approach in this column and marries Indian flavors with local and seasonal produce.
Rinku can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.